Becoming a fire investigator can be achieved through working in a fire department, attending a fire investigator academy or academic institution, or joining a law enforcement agency. Additional education in areas such as engineering and chemistry can be useful, and on-the-job experience is valuable for those planning to work in the insurance industry.
There are several career paths available to a person who wants to become a fire investigator. One option is to work in the ranks of a fire department to gain practical skills. Another way is to receive formal training at a fire investigator academy or academic institution. Other investigators apply to law enforcement agencies that send them for fire investigation training. The best path forward depends on where an investigator wants to work and what types of investigations they want to work on.
A firefighter can become a fire investigator by attending a fire academy or working in the ranks of a volunteer fire department. This will provide experience on the job in firefighting. Along the way, firefighters also begin to learn about fire investigation so they can trace the origins and causes of the fires they work on. A trained firefighter may pursue continuing education in fire investigation to gain additional skills and, in some regions, may apply to become a law enforcement officer with skills to investigate fires and assist in court.
Academies are available to fire investigator trainees. The academy will offer education on how to research fires and provide training in criminal justice. This training can be important as it will show a person wanting to become a fire investigator how to conduct investigations, collect forensic evidence, and maintain a chain of custody so that evidence is legally permitted in court. Firefighters tend to focus on putting out the fire and may be unfamiliar with handling evidence, whereas an academy intern can preserve evidence while remaining safe in a fire or investigation after a fire has occurred.
Advanced degrees in areas such as engineering and chemistry can be useful for some fire investigators, as can training in contracting, electrical systems, and so on. A person planning to become a fire investigator may have this type of educational background rather than a firefighting background. He will need to acquire some additional skills to learn how to work safely in investigations.
Another option for becoming a fire investigator is to join a law enforcement agency and pursue fire investigation training through the agency. The agency can send staff to academies and training seminars and can also offer on-the-job experience. As the intern advances through the ranks, he can oversee investigations and can become a lead investigator. This type of experience can be valuable for people planning to work in the insurance industry, as insurance companies want highly trained agents to represent their interests when investigating claims associated with fire.
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